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We’re continuing to track various West Seattle crime cases through the court system, and have three updates:

WESTCREST PARK MURDER CASE: The trial date for the three defendants in last September’s Westcrest Park murder of 15-year-old Derek Juarez-Lopez has been changed again. Now Diego Carballo-Olivares, Elizabeth Cabrera-Aparicio, and Jonatan Islas-Martinez are scheduled for trial in July, depending on how a trial-readiness hearing goes on May 11th. Court documents say defense lawyers requested the extra time because they have dozens of potential witnesses – including law-enforcement personnel – to interview.

ADMIRAL STABBING CASE: A new trial date also has been set for Kierra Ward, charged with two counts of assault in the October stabbing of a woman walking with her baby. Ward is now scheduled to go on trial April 25th, depending on how her next trial-readiness hearing goes – that’s set for April 13th. She remains in King County Jail, in lieu of $400,000 bail.

WARRANT FOR BURGLARY/CAR PROWL SUSPECT: Four weeks ago, we reported on charges filed against Nicholas Watson, arrested in mid-February at an Upper Morgan one-time nuisance house that had since been renovated and readied for sale, found with what was described as loot from car prowls. It was his fourth arrest this year but first time he’d been charged. Checking on his case, we found court documents showing that Watson requested a bail reduction at his March 1st arraignment and was released from jail, on grounds he would participate in the CCAP program. Now a warrant is out for his arrest. Terms of the program included reporting for classes every weekday; court documents say he stopped reporting five days after he was released.

Over the weekend, West Seattle artist Desmond Hansen painted a tribute portrait on a fourth local signal box. This time, it’s Layne Staley of Alice in Chains, and it’s on the northwest corner of the Avalon/Harbor/Spokane intersection. That follows Jimi Hendrix at California/Fauntleroy (featured here March 7th), Bruce Lee at 35th/Morgan (featured here March 10th), and Chris Cornell at 35th/Alaska (here’s the artist’s Instagram photo). Hansen also launched a crowdfunding page to raise money for supplies, and it’s already past its goal; in a video accompanying it, he says he might even take the project citywide.

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Comments Off on WORSHIP WITHOUT WALLS: 2nd annual service day for Fauntleroy Church

(All ages made blankets to comfort sick children through Project Linus. Photo by Monika Lidman)

Thanks to Judy Pickens for sending the photos and sharing the report:

Today the second annual Worship Without Walls at Fauntleroy Church drew 120 adults and children to a morning of service, volunteering an estimated 200 hours to Food Lifeline, Friends of Lincoln Park, West Seattle Elementary, Project Linus, and refugee support through the International Rescue Committee.

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Comments Off on TUESDAY: Watch spring’s first sunset with Alice Enevoldsen

That was the spectacular sunset on March 20, 2014, as seen from West Seattle’s Solstice Park, during NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen‘s spring-equinox event. Our archived coverage shows that was the most-recent time the sun cooperated with Alice’s spring sunset watches – but the forecast for the next one, 6:30-7:30 pm Tuesday (March 20th), looks promising! You’re invited to join Alice for the free and fun informational all-ages gathering Tuesday night – here’s how to get to Solstice Park (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW, uphill from the tennis courts) if you haven’t been there before.

P.S. Spring officially arrives at 9:15 am our time Tuesday. While the official sunset time will be around 7:20 pm, Alice has noted over the years that the moment of disappearance behind the Olympic Mountains is usually about 10 minutes earlier.

The photo above shows Chief Sealth International High School Jazz Band members on the pedestrian bridge over the Clark Fork River in Missoula, Montana. It’s from parent chaperone Debbie Taylor, who explains:

They returned yesterday from a four day trip there to compete in the Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival. The festival is in its 38th year and takes place at the University of Montana. The band was able to take this trip through the generous donations made to and support from the Denny-Sealth Performing Arts (DSPA) Boosters. The Jazz Band is conducted by Dr. Marcus Pimpleton and Brittany DeLong (not pictured). The Chief Sealth Jazz Band brought home the Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival Outstanding Soloist Award, and at least seven medals awarded for outstanding musicianship to individuals in the Jazz Band.

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand) A crew working for the state Department of Natural Resources is back out on West Seattle beaches this week, cleaning up creosote - a toxic threat you might not even recognize as you walk along beaches strewn with old pilings containing literally tons of the substance lon...